“I expect we would have done it already if we really had a mind to Ralphie. I’m afraid there was bad news that we were just discussing when you busted in here. Walter Winchell is talking about a bombing raid that didn’t turn out so good. He’s claiming that we lost an atomic bomb and most of the bombers were shot down. He says his sources tell him that the Reds have some kind of German Wonder Weapon for shooting down our bombers.”
“Man, you’re kidding right? That’s just terrible news Mr. Murphy! What’re we going to do about it?”
“Well Ralphie, I’m joining up again. It looks like I have to show them how it’s done one more time.”
“If you’re joining Mr. Murphy, so am I! We’ll show ’em a thing or two together, won’t we, Mr. Murphy?”
“I suppose you’re old enough Ralphie, but you’d better talk it over with your folks first.”
“Can I go with you to the recruiting office, Mr. Murphy? It would sure be an honor to be with you when we sign up.”
“Alright Ralphie, it’s a deal, but you still have to talk to your parents first.”
“Oh, alright, but don’t sign up without me! Okay Mr. Murphy? Promise me now. Don’t sign up without me.”
“Okay Ralphie. I promise.”
“You sure you want to do this, Audie? You’ve done your part. Maybe it’s time someone else stepped up for a change.”
“I’ve thought about it, long and hard Joe. I think we have to get this over with right quick, and us veterans are the fastest way to get it done. The government spent lots of time and money into training us to kill Nazis and Nips. I guess that same training can be used to kill Reds too. What worries me is that we’ll probably be used for desk jobs, or training and young guys like Ralphie, will do the actual fighting. I suspect our experience makes us veterans pretty valuable, especially for training these gung-ho youngsters who missed the last one, but it still doesn’t sit well with me Joe. We’ll see, but one thing I do know is that we have to take these guys real serious, and it’s going to be a hard fight ahead of us. I really don’t give a rat’s ass about the Germans, but I got real fond of the French and Brits, and it just doesn’t seem right that we’d leave ’em in a lurch and run away with our tails between our legs. As I see it, this Stalin is maybe even worse than Hitler, and I just can’t see us walking away and letting him undo everything we fought for. One dictator is the same as another. Besides, if we leave him alone he’ll figure out a way to attack us here I’m sure. From what I read he hates our freedom, our way of life, and the way we do business. Well, I happen to like it all myself, and I’m going to see to it that we keep on keeping on.”
“Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. America! From border to border, and from coast to coast, and to all the ships at sea! Let’s go to press…”
“America’s greatest hero is going to show us how to do it again. Audie Murphy has re-enlisted in the Army and wants all the war veterans out there to join him.”
“According to Murphy, ‘One dictator is the same as another… Besides, if we leave Stalin alone and let him sit there in Paris… he’ll figure out a way to attack us here, I’m sure. From what I read, he hates our freedom, our way of life, and the way we do business. Well I happen to like it all, myself, and I’m going to see to it that we keep on keeping on.”
“Amen, Audie! Amen.”
July 13th, 1946
“Medal of Honor Winners to Fight Again”
In an unprecedented show of courage, honor and unabashed patriotism, almost all of the surviving World War Two Medal of Honor recipients have pledged to follow Audie Murphy’s example and rejoin the Armed Forces.
The following is just a short list of all the award winners who are signing up to fight the Soviets and to free Europe once more. They have all signed a pledge and are urging all young men who are able to join them in this crusade against a Godless foe. They are especially appealing to veterans. “We need the veterans to once more charge into the breach”. Here is a short list of all those who have signed the pledge
AUDIE MURPHY
EDWARD A. BENNETT
ARTHUR O. BEYER
MELVIN E. BIDDLE
CECIL H. BOLTON
HERSCHEL F. BRILES
BOBBIE E. BROWN
FRANCIS S. CURREY
JOE FOSS
PIERPONT M. HAMILTON
JAMES H. HOWARD
JAMES R. HENDRIX
LEON W. JOHNSON
JOHN R. KANE
JOSE M. LOPEZ
VERNON McGARITY
WILLIAM A. SODERMAN
PAUL J. WIEDORFER
Not to be out done, many members of the entertainment industry who have previously served, have also pledged to do their duty once more. Actors who are also combat veterans have pledged to return to the colors and fight for freedom yet again.
These actors and veterans have joined the call to join up once again and “Win One for the Gipper”.
GENE AUTRY
EDDIE ALBERT
JAMES ARNESS
ERNEST BORGNINE
RICHARD BURTON
ART CARNEY
KIRK DOUGLAS
HENRY FONDA
GLENN FORD
CLARK GABLE
WILLIAM HOLDEN
BURT LANCASTER
RONALD REAGAN
JAMES STEWART
In a joint statement from The Actors’ Guild, they are urging all veterans to re-enlist now.
Clark Gable was quoted as saying, “We have the training and the experience to pitch right in right away and to drive the commies out of Europe back to where they belong. We don’t have time to train all the men we need, or wait for the draft.
The time is now. The road to freedom has always started with our democracy, and this time is no different. To all you vets out there: Join up, and join up now! Let’s free the world from Godless Communism. Let’s finish this job once and for all
AND FRANKLY, MY DEAR, I DO GIVE A DAMN…”
Conspicuously absent from the announcement was America’s favorite movie soldier and celebrity, John Wayne, who made thirteen movies during the last war.
Chapter Sixteen:
Polonium
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
July 13th, 1946
9:04 hours
His hands were slick with sweat, sheathed within the rubberized gloves, as he carefully lifted the container from the vault. In his sweaty hands he held the most expensive and the deadliest substance on earth. It was the key to detonating the atomic bomb. Most people have never heard of it, but for the last year it had been his life. In his role of Health Physics Officer, he had full access to both the Oak Ridge and the Dayton atomic centers.
Both facilities were gearing up for maximum research and production efforts. Many of the original team; along with many new members, were drafted after the Soviet attack, to continue their work. Their newly-acquired civilian jobs were left behind because their country needed them once again.
In his role as Health Physics Officer he had handled the containers many times, and even helped dispense its contents during the production process. He knew the dangers, and knew what he had to do, in order to protect his own life. A salt-sized grain of this harmless-looking powder could kill thousands of the strongest and healthiest men on earth if breathed in, or otherwise ingested. Death came calling with less than fifty nanograms. The amount in each container could easily kill a small city.[25]
25
Bagnall, K. W. (1962). “The Chemistry of Polonium”. Advances in Inorganic Chemistry and Radiochemistry 4. New York: Academic Press. pp. 197–226. doi:10.1016/S0065-2792(08)60268-X. ISBN 0-12-023604-4. Retrieved June 14, 2012.